Just wondering how easy it would be to visit Mycenae and the Theater of Epidaurus in one day? We will be staying in Napflion the night before.

It's achievable and pretty easily I think. Both places are amazing. When we were at the Theatre my husband and I made our way to the very top row of the theatre. There was a young American man standing in the middle of the stage!! From there my husband and the American man in turn recited Shakespeare (Hamlet I think). They were both speaking in their normal speaking voices and the accoustics were perfect. Everyone could hear them both perfectly!!

Are you hiring a car? We were on a tour which was ok. Make sure you visit Olympia as well, it's a very peaceful place and it's fun to run the original athletics track.

How long do you have, just the one day? How are you getting to Nauplio?
If you are driving you can stop at Mycenae one the way to Nauplio from Athens. For that matter you could also stop at Ancient Corinth and Ancient Nemia on the way to Nauplio, Both will take about an hour and are well worth the visit.
Mycenae and Epadarus are in opposite directions. You can certainly visit both in one day but that will mean a fair amount of time in the car.

There are bus tours from Athens that stop at several different sites including Mycenae and Epadarus and you can go one day and return the next with an overnight in Nauplion. That could be a good alternative for you as well. To book try Uli at Dolph8in Hellas or Fantasy Tours both in Athens. Both have good reputations.

I have some pictures if you are interested.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/551991579dJbWvh

There is no way to see all of this and Olympia on an overnight stay in Nauplion. However Ancient Nemia was a sister city to Olympia and had its own games and still has a stadium, partially restored temple and a good museum. It is just west of Corinth just where you turn off the National Road to head south to Nauplion. Go north about 5km instead and there is Nemia. Virtually no one knows about it.

Have fun planning.

Thanks very much for the answers. We'll have a car. We will have come from Olympia (we're staying there the night before)--so we won't be able to visit Mycenae or Epidaurus until the next day.

stanbr: I checked out your pictures--they're beautiful.

Does anyone know where I can find the hours that these two sites will be open in early September? I've searched a lot, but have had no real luck yet.

I thought I recognized your handle. I see Yassis was able to provide you with links to the various sites.

Depending when you get away from Olympia you may still have time to visit Mycenae on the way to Nauplion.
That will give you lots of time for Epadarus the next day.
Of course Nauplion itself is lovely and you will probably want to spend some time there too. So much to see and do!

Caligirl, we visited both Mycenae and Epidaurus in one day with no difficulty, and we are typically real slowpokes at museums and historic sites. We went to Mycenae in the morning, and to Epidaurus in the mid- to late afternoon. We hung out at the Theatre for quite a while, just watching different groups of people come along and try out centre stage. Many people tested out their talents - some people recited a monologue or poem, a few sang a song. We even got to see a few musicians. A guy came in with his cello and went to centre stage and played several pieces. Then a man with a violin came in, watched the cellist for a bit, went over to him and suggested they try playing together; they discussed what pieces they both knew, chose one, and played it together (a bit rough as they obviously didn't know each other and were perhaps working from different scores, but it was pretty cool). The whole experience was a lot of fun, and was one of the highlights of our trip to the Peloponnese.

I'll have to brush up on my poetry recitation skills. Haven't done that since I was in school!

I did Mycenae/Tiryns/Nafplion/Epidaurus/Isthmia out of Athens as a day trip by car and didn't find it overly taxing nor did we feel to rushed at the sites.

I would recommend Mycenae first (you will pass Tiryns on the way as well) then Epidaurus.

If you head to Corinth/Athens next take the coast road... it's a lovely drive and you can pass the sinking bridge at Isthmia as well!

Here's a link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ProfileGa...i19989010.html

Rob